Sometimes, when gospel music is being mentioned, the average mind thinks of another boring old folks song preserved only for sunday; sound-tracking the weeks guilt.
However, Afrogospel and Christian Hip Hop artist PROTEK ILLASHEVA like a few other artists, intends to re-design gospel music with the trendy, pop culture touch to appeal to the general public whilst renewing minds, winning & transforming souls.
His latest single, “Spirit High” is a beautiful and that perfect feel good vibe that echoes how we get so high on God’s love. Sonically it’s a blend of melody rap/hip hop and Afrogospel.
It features CalledOut Music (UK), Se Ok (SA) and the young talented Dave Cobs (Nig).
It’s been two years since Red Rocks Worship released their acclaimed album, Things Of Heaven, and they are now more than ready to share new music with the world. Today, the Denver-based worship collaborative drops their latest song, “Good Plans,” along with announcing their new album, titled Ascend, which will release on July 14, 2023. A pre-order for the album also begins today.
Preparing for more than a year to create Ascend, Red Rocks Worship member Tyler Roberts shares, “For us, it’s been a year of pruning, of laying down pride and chasing God, and searching for what worship is and what it looks like to really go after the Lord and enter His gates with praise.
Every single song on the album has a story behind it that means something to all of us. We titled it Ascend, which is found right in Psalm 24, stating, Who can ascend the mountain of God, who can be in the presence of the Lord.”
“Good Plans” is the album’s first single to release. A live video for the song can be viewed below. Inspired by Psalm 23, “It became the focal point of every word that we wrote for that song,” worship leader Kory Miller explains. “I’m really excited for this song to release. It feels like a major personal revelation that turned into a corporate revelation for our church.”
Red Rocks Worship will be able to share their music live on May 19 at Night Of Worship With Red Rocks Worship in Mesa, Arizona, as well as on their album’s release day at Drylands Student Conference in Carlsbad, NM. Be sure to visit their tour page for the latest dates.
Disciple has released the new song “Bad Words,” the latest track from the forthcoming album Skeleton Psalms, which is due out from BEC Recordings on April 28. Along with the new song, the band launched vinyl and CD preorders. You can stream “Bad Words”
“Bad Words” is a blistering rocker touting a subversive message about what we are and aren’t allowed to say.
“We like to write songs that make people excited about their faith,” band lead singer and founder Kevin Young shares. “Hopefully, not make people annoying, abusive, or violent Christians. More than they’ve set the constitution of their heart to where they are unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ: I am going to love you.
I’m going to love you no matter your political party, your race, or any other kind of adjective that separates you from someone else. For God so loved the world, and therefore I so love the world.”
He continues, “But if you think it’s a bad word for me to say, Jesus? I just need you to know that I’m going to say what I believe, because of my love and my passion for Him and my love and my passion for people. That they need to know that there is a God. And He did not come to the world to condemn the world, but He came to the world to save them. That’s our message: this bad word known as Jesus.”
Disciple Releases “Bad Words” Alongside Preorder Of ‘Skeleton Psalms’
Stream & Enjoy Below
Like the rest of the album, “Bad Words” was created in the house: produced by guitarist Josiah Prince at his studio The Ranch, written by Kevin Young, Andrew Stanton (guitar), and Josiah Prince, with drums from Joey West and additional backing vocal support from touring bassist Marco Pera.
The band called on mix engineer Nick Rad (Skillet) and mastering engineer Sam Moses (Tenth Avenue North) to round out the creative team.
The song follows the release of “Promise to Live” and “The Executioner,” which just recently topped CMW’s Christian Rock chart. The band also just wrapped a stint on Winter Jam Tour, playing 40 arenas around the country.
Currently, in addition to preparing for the release of Skeleton Psalms on April 28, Disciple is playing both rock sets and leading worship through their other musical project Honor & Glory. You can find a full list of tour dates at disciplerocks.com/tour.
With her Conversations EP, singer and songwriter Grace Graber is continuing to open up a dialog about faith, mental health, and her own story of survival.
“The Conversations EP was written from a place of finally sharing with the world how much I was struggling with my mental health,” Grace Graber offers candidly. “I felt like people knew me as the girl who was excited and passionate about Jesus and church, all the stereotypes of a Christian woman. In reality, I was still hurting a lot. I turned to drink and other ways to self-medicate.”
That bracing honesty served as the starting place for a collection of songs that offer a lifeline to anyone experiencing the same shadows. The title track “Conversations” was born from that place of secret struggle.
Grace had just written the song “Do it for Me” with Holly Halliwell, clinging to the track record of a God who is constantly “making new things out of the dust.” That session led them into a raw conversation in which Grace admitted that she knew she needed to go back on medication for anxiety.
Paired together, “Do it for Me” and “Conversations” are the compass points that orient the collision of personal pain with God’s comforting light. This is carried through in “The Light,” a hopeful song that is indicative of Grace’s venture back into her punk-pop roots. For Grace, dialing up the guitars is an act of freedom, a return to her more authentic self.
After all, Christian pop punk started everything for Grace. When Grace Graber was a suicidal teenager struggling with PTSD, it was music that gave her the ability to survive— specifically, a Hawk Nelson song.
That’s why when Grace wrote the testimony song “This One’s For You” with Chris Cleveland (Stars Go Dim) and Tony Wood (Colton Dixon, Big Daddy Weave), it felt like having original Hawk Nelson singer Jason Dunn guest feature would bring it all full circle.
Fortunately, she knew a few people who offered to make the fall. Soon Jason was recording his part on “This One’s For You” from Canada, lending his voice once again to Grace Graber’s story.
“I’m singing my story with the person who saved my life,” Grace reflects, her voice full of emotion. “The lyrics that Jason sings are just so perfect because verse 2 talks about how he’s got a long way to go. He had a whole life with Hawk Nelson, and now he has a whole other life with his family. I think it represents so perfectly how much I can still learn from him.”
In the same way that musicians like Jason Dunn have modeled a life of candor and faithfulness for Grace, the rising songwriter is now doing the same for her listeners. With every story of brokenness made while in her own life, Grace hopes to communicate the way that’s possible for everyone.
“These are all my thoughts, these are all my words, but it’s all just a representation of what God is able to do in anyone,” she concludes, reflecting on the divine personal touches God put all over the project.
“This is anointing that I cannot take credit for. It’s about what God wants to do for His people, specifically through mental health. I’m not doing music for me, to get on the radio, to get signed. I’m doing music to save lives.”
Conversations – Grace Graber
Stream & Enjoy
With that heart held front and center, Grace has seen the right people come around her to support her vision— even as an independent artist. In addition to her co-writers, Grace worked with producer Blake Cross in Nashville to record the songs.
She’s working with Faith Artist Agency to book concerts and speaking events. And she is keeping the conversations going with a second season of her podcast on the NewReleaseToday network.
From Grace’s view, “Staying independent for this project and still seeing God move is a miracle in itself.”
“Emotionally, it’s been very healing,” she adds, looking at this new era of her music and ministry. “Eye-opening. It’s guiding me in what I know I need to say for the rest of my life. This has sparked a conversation that might never end.”
Emmy Award-winning, Singer/Songwriter, Gospel hit-maker, and Amazon best-selling author Earnest Pugh has just released his second single “Keeper Of My Souls.” The soul-stirring anthem is featured on his forthcoming album The Very Best of Earnest Pugh, slated for release on Shanachie Entertainment on June 2, 2023
The Very Best of Earnest Pugh will showcase such signature hits as “Rain on Us” and “The Great I Am,” as well as two new tracks featuring Zacardi Cortez and Nakitta Foxx respectively. It is a timely reminder of Earnest’s impact and contributions over the past fifteen years.
Stream & Enjoy
Shanachie General Manager Shanachie notes, “We are thrilled to welcome Earnest Pugh to the Shanachie family. His extraordinary voice and consistently outstanding songs set a standard of quality that means a lot on the contemporary scene.”
Earnest Pugh launched his gospel recording career 15 years ago and scored a major breakthrough in 2009 with the Billboard #1 gospel hit “Rain On Us.” Pugh, who is a worship leader at The Church Without Walls in Houston, TX, also scored Billboard #1 hits for the songs “I Need Your Glory,” “God Wants To Heal You” and “Thank You So Much.”
Dubbed “Gospel’s Leading Man,” Earnest Pugh has garnered multiple Stellar Award nominations and he is a recipient of the prestigious BMI (Broadcast Music Industry) award for long-standing radio play with his rendition of “ I Need Your Glory.” With a five-octave range, Earnest consistently sets the bar for quality gospel music as a singer, songwriter, producer, label executive, and mentor.
Centricity Music’s chart-topping singer, songwriter, guitar aficionado, and podcaster Coby James returns with “Good News” released today (March 31). Going to radio on May 15, the song is inspired by Jesus’ command in Mark 16:15 to preach the gospel, the good news, to all creation.
Coby James not only takes this command seriously but with a joy that permeates much of this 21-year-old’s life and music.
Stream & Enjoy
Written with award-winning songwriters Paul Duncan and Colby Wedgeworth, Coby James is sharing “Good News” live across the country while on the “Still” tour with Steven Curtis Chapman. The tour began March 2 and runs through the end of April. All the latest tour dates can be found at https://cobyjames.com/#tour.
“Dreams can come true,” states James on Instagram following the first night of the tour in Springfield, MO. “Unbelievable. What a night. So excited for all that’s to come.”
Chapman invited Coby James, along with Gotee records’ Joseph O’Brien, on tour following this duo’s musical tribute to the legendary artist on their The CoJo Show podcast.
The beloved Christian music group, Newsboys, is releasing “He Lives”, the first of multiple digital singles they intend to release in 2023, in anticipation of their latest recording project. Written by Chris McClarney and Church of the City (Franklin, TN).
“He Lives is such a powerful song about the resurrection of our Savior,” says Michael Tait, lead singer. “Having sung it at church while we are home from the road, I knew it was one to include as we put this next project together, and to have it feature our friend and touring mate Adam Agee as he joins the band, it is the perfect song to celebrate this Easter season.”
Newsboys are excited to welcome long-time friend and touring mate Adam Agee to the group. Agee, the founding member of pop-punk band Stellar Kart, before taking the helm of Audio Adrenaline in 2014, has been touring with the band for the last several years as a solo artist and speaker on behalf of Child Fund International, the long-time charity partner with Newsboys.
Newsboys Releases New Digital Single
Stream & Enjoy
“I’ve been best friends with these guys for most of my career and have been able to spend the last several years on tour with them…,” said Agee. “I am very excited about this next season together as friends and now band-mates, and what God calls us to do with it!”
Agee officially joined the Newsboys in February as they launched their Let The Music Speak Experience which has been attended by sold-out audiences all across the country.
Newsboys will continue to tour throughout the summer, visiting six cities on the East Coast with Franklin Graham on the God Loves Your Tour, before bringing the Let The Music Speak Experience to several festivals, fairs, theme parks, and multiple international events in England and Germany. For concert information, visit www.newsboys.com/tour for dates and locations.
Gospel music superstars Tamela & David Mann and Dr. Bobby Jones were celebrated today at the 2023 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards held at Flourish in Atlanta, GA. The awards show paid tribute to the best in the Gospel music community and honored BMI’s GospelSong of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year and the top 25 Gospel songs of the previous year. BMI’s President & CEO, Mike O’Neill and Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton hosted the event.
The inspirational luncheon began with a celebration of music and joyful worship with Jonathan McReynolds, Chandler Moore and Kirk Franklin performing a medley of three of BMI’s award-winning songs, “Grace,” “Jireh” and “Kingdom,” before moving to the event’s main honorees and award-winners.
As a Trailblazer of Gospel Music honoree, Dr. Bobby Jones was saluted for his legendary career, mentorship of the next generation and his tireless contributions to the genre. The tribute performances honoring Jones’ legacy kicked off with The Company singing “What a Friend,” followed by a beautiful rendition of “Bring it to Jesus” featuring Beverly Crawford.
Tamela and David Mann were celebrated as BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music for their exceptional success in the genre and beyond, both as stellar songwriters, artists and actors. The musical tributes to The Manns kicked-off with Zacardi Cortez and Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper giving a moving performance of “Now Behold the Lamb,” followed by Lisa Knowles-Smith who gave a powerful rendition of “Take Me to the King.” After accepting the honor and thanking those who have helped the husband-and-wife team along the way, Tamela Mann surprised the audience with an explosive performance of her mega-hit, “Change Me,” which spent 23 weeks at number one on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Chart.
Throughout the event, BMI saluted the Top 25 most-performed Gospel songs of the previous year, leading up to the coveted BMI Gospel Song of the Year, which went to “Believe For It” written by CeCe Winans and Mitch Wong (APRA). The song spent 12 weeks at the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Chart and garnered multiple accolades including two GMA Dove Awards and a GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song. BMI’s Gospel Songwriter of the Year was a tie between Dante Bowe and Jonathan McReynolds for each writing two of the most performed Gospel songs of the previous year. Bowe was honored for “Joyful” and “Promises” and McReynolds for “Brighter” and “Grace.” BMI’s Gospel Publisher of the Year went to Be Essential Songs for having award-winning songs “Brighter,” “Jireh,” “Promises” and “Something Has to Break,” among its repertoire.
During the ceremony, the late legendary soul singer/songwriter Otis Redding was honored with four BMI Million-Air Awards, a distinction that recognizes songwriters whose works have achieved the rare feat of surpassing one million broadcast performances on radio. Originally written and recorded by Otis Redding in the 1960’s, the songs were “Sweet Soul Music” (4 million performances), “Hard to Handle” (7 million performances), “Respect” (7 million performances) and BMI’s Song of the Year in 1968, the incomparable “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” (12 million performances). Attending the ceremony were members of Redding’s family, including his wife Zelma and their daughter Karla Redding-Andrews, who accepted the honors on behalf of her father and the Otis Redding Foundation.
Additional performances included a special tribute to the late singer/producer/choir director Kevin Lemons, who was known for his work with Donald Lawrence and the Company, and his own dynamic group known as Kevin Lemons and Higher Calling. Members of Higher Calling hit the stage for a soul-stirring performance of “Perfect Peace” accompanied by Donald Lawrence and The Company. Other award-winning songs performed throughout the evening included “Just Like God” by Evvie McKinney, “Great” by Kelontae Gavin and “Wonderful is Your Name” by Melvin Crispell.
Eric Decker, JT Hodges, Jessie James Decker, Delanie Walker, RaeLynn, Jason Crabb and more will appear during the Fund Recovery Charity Dinner & Concert on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at The Twelve Thirty Club. The event begins at 6 PM, which a red carpet at 5:45 PM,
The second annual event, which was already scheduled, will now benefit mental health services for The Covenant School and those impacted by the recent shooting.
“My heart is hurting this week. A senseless act took the lives of innocent children and loving leaders in our community. Surviving a school shooting myself, I know how important it is to come together and wrap our arms around these families grieving the loss of their loved ones,” says Eric Decker. “We all need support and love to navigate through this difficult time.”
The evening will feature music and appearances by JT Hodges, Eric and Jessie James Decker, RaeLynn, Jason Crabb, Butch Walker, Jay, and Jeremy Popoff from the band Lit, Eric Paslay, Ty Herndon, and Tyler Rich, former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, Pro Football Hall of Famers Anthony Munoz, Warren Moon, Steve Atwater,Steve Hutchinson, LeRoy Butler, along with former Titans stars Delanie Walker, Taylor Lewan, Ben Jones, and many more guests from all walks of life.
The night will be hosted by Storme Warren.
Guests will enjoy delectable fare and libations from one of Nashville’s premier venues while enjoying live music and appearances from music celebrities and athletes.
A limited amount of tickets are still available online. For those who can’t attend but still wish to donate, CaringWays will be accepting donations for The Covenant School HERE.
Michigan rapper NF unveiled plans today for an international tour. Pre-sales begin April 5 at 10AM local time with general on-sale underway April 7 at 10AM local time.
The HOPE Tour, including stops in the US, Canada, UK and Europe, will feature songs from NF’s forthcoming HOPE album which is due out April 7. Pre-order the new collection HERE.
It’s the rapper’s first album since 2019’s platinum-selling The Search and his first longer project since 2021’s CLOUDS (THE MIXTAPE).
